1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

12 Volt Battery {eLearnAid}

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by tonyl, Sep 12, 2009.

  1. tonyl

    tonyl Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    27
    3
    0
    Ordered a new Optima for my 2005, but did a swap instead.

    But the Optima in the 2010, then it's battery in the 05, much more room in the 2010. eLearnAid was only 2$ to 10$ more then the dealers here for wet battery.

    Don't know what the thing is in one picture, anyone know?

    tony l :cool:
     

    Attached Files:

  2. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2009
    791
    135
    0
    Location:
    Alabama
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've herd good things about these "yellow top" batteries. I'm tempted to put a higher capacity batter in my Prius.
     
  3. RodJo

    RodJo Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    423
    56
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    You may want to review this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-12v-battery-replacement-opinions-please.html. Especially posts 7 and 12.

    According to the TSB, the 2010 uses a special battery. I wonder if what you show is part of the battery venting system. But that's just a guess.... Let us know when you figure it out.
     
  4. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2009
    791
    135
    0
    Location:
    Alabama
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Oh woah, thanks for the link to that thread. I sure wont be adding an aftermarket battery to my 2010! :eek:
     
  5. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
    771
    62
    0
    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    All of the optima's meet Toyota's requirement, They are about the best battery there is for an automobile if money is no object.
    I don't think they are warrantied in a Prius though unless you have some kind of monster stereo system or other large electrical load, and like to play it without the car being in the ready mode.
    That being said, I have Optima's in all of my other vehicles, just don't think the Prius needs one.
     
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    The elearnaid Optima battery is intended for a Mazda Miata, and does include the vent tube provision. I'm unsure if regular Optima batteries have provision for a vent tube
     
  7. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
    771
    62
    0
    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    What's an elernaid? I ask because my wife has left the lights on and or the door open and or the trunk open on our Miata killing the battery several times, so I know it has to be on it's last legs. I was unaware of an Optima for the Miata. You would think that it would be hard to forget to turn the lights off on a car with pop up headlights wouldn't you?:eek:
    The OEM battery for the Miata was made by Panasonic and I think one of the very first Gel cell batteries. The Westco sealed AGM battery has been considered the only option, but I'd rather have the Optima.
     
  8. boppo

    boppo Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2009
    799
    138
    0
    Location:
    Owego, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Tony,
    Did the orginal vent tube fit the new Optima battery?
    Thanks
     
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    This company offers a kit for the Prius that includes the correct Optima battery - from the Miata - and the post adapter.

    12 Volt (12v) Toyota Prius Auxilary Battery for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with installation kit and free shipping

    Apparently, Mazda Miata owners are familiar with this battery

    optima red top battery - which should I buy? - MX-5 Miata Forum

    Hope this helps

    It did for Hobbit

    Prius 12V swap
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
    771
    62
    0
    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Jayman,
    Thanks, apparently there is no actual Optima Miata battery. It still doesn't fit, yes the mount can be modified and made to work of course, but I was hoping Optima had made a Miata specific battery, Oh well, sorry to hijack
     
  11. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
    771
    62
    0
    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    What's with the giant UPS in Hobbit's post? If it is connected to the 12V battery, why not use it as the 12V battery? Most of the UPS's I've used use big lead acid 12V batteries as a power supply
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. tonyl

    tonyl Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    27
    3
    0
    Boppo
    Yes the vent tube fits, the battery kit from then comes with a new 90 deg fitting
    for the + side, a plug for the vent on the neg. side, and a new ground cable

    All you need is a 10mm and 1/2" wrench and less then 1 hour to swap.
     
  13. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2006
    6,057
    388
    0
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The Prius is harder on the Aux battery in many ways than most other cars. It doesn't need cranking amps, but it does suffer from extended, somewhat elevated drains. Open a car door, and even after closing it, the thing stays awake and using quite a bit of power for a long time. Leave a map light on, and it doesn't matter what kind of stereo you have in there. The Yellowtop for me is insurance that I'm glad to have. The car sits there and leaks all the time (leave your SKS system on by chance?)

    I need a higher capacity battery not because of how I USE the Prius. But because I so rarely use the Prius. Here's my page on it for my 2006.
    Prius Optima Aux
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. finman

    finman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2004
    1,287
    111
    0
    Location:
    Albany, OR
    Vehicle:
    2014 Nissan LEAF
    Okay, I'm reviving an old thread...I need to vent.

    Bought the D51 Optima yellowtop Jan 2008 for my 04 Prius. Jan 2010 and it will not hold 11 volts at rest (per the diagnostic "secret" Prius screen). And it drops to 10.3 volt when in ign on (the second press of the power button). I comes to find out the warranty "back then" is 2 years. Current models of the d51 the warranty is 3 years. Am i just unlucky or is there any room for a "discounted" replacement? Seems these optima yellow tops are NOT the cat's meow. 2 years? That's worse than the 4 year old Toyota OEM Prius battery! NO abusing here, it will not start the car after sitting for the weekend. Thanks for listening...anyone else not impressed with optima?

    Curt
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,831
    1,824
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    Curt,

    How far do you regularly drive? The Prius battery charging system uses a "Constant Voltage" method which is results in safe, but very slow charging. Short trips will not keep the 12v battery charged. Get a "Battery Minder":

    BatteryMINDer® Plus AGM/OPTIMA Maintenance Charger / Desulfator-Conditioner 12 Volt – 1.0 Amp | All | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com

    Which should recover your battery capacity and then maintain it at full charge while your car sits idle.

    JeffD
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. finman

    finman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2004
    1,287
    111
    0
    Location:
    Albany, OR
    Vehicle:
    2014 Nissan LEAF
    Hey thanks for the link. Yeah, the elearnaid person said the same thing, suggested similar product. Mostly I'm driving less than 10 miles (around 10 minutes) one way on surface streets only. I'm a prime candidate for a plug-in, let me tell ya!

    When I do drive highway speeds and more miles...no problems with the battery. If it sits for 2-3 days (weekends), then it goes too low to start my Prius. Plus the cold weather lately...yep, I guess I could use a battery minder. :)

    Curt
     
    1 person likes this.
  17. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    3,461
    537
    0
    Location:
    Wheelersburg, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I was in the same situation as you. I bought the Optima back in 2008. Thinking that my battery is about to die because right after I first got it I accidentally drained the battery and now it sits at or below 11.5v I bought a new one since the old one had a short warranty. I bought a batteryminder 12v charger because I needed a charger anyway and now I have two good Optimas. The new one is in my car and the old one is just sitting around waiting to be used for something.

    I have a short commute. 22 miles round trip. My car sits about 23 hours a day. So the battery never really gets charged. I plan on buying that batteryminder in the link above this summer and hook it into my charge port so when my Hymotion battery is charging the Optima battery will get a charge.
     
    1 person likes this.
  18. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    1,378
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thanks for the info in this. 12v in my 2005 died today after a long weekend so this is a welcome, upgrade replacement.

    Was looking at the Braille battery, but doesn't seem like anybody used that in a Prius.
     
  19. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    That "thing" is the battery temperature sensor which is used to automatically adjust the charging voltage. The battery vent is on the positive terminal side of the battery.
     
  20. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Huh ??? 22 MILES !!!! That's a short commute ???

    If a battery doesn't last (or won't charge successfully) being driven 22 miles a day .... that battery is GARBAGE.

    Why do so many people think they're doing something 'better' by spending more money on a non-proven 'upgrade'.

    I don't get it ... just buy the Toyota battery ... it works.

    REV